Emerald Eyes (19 page)

“I’ll be back.” He made himself smile. “I owe you so much. I’ll never be able to repay you.”

Indian Joe cleared his throat. “There is a way.”

“What?” Chuck whipped his head around.

“I know this is probably the last thing you want to think about right now. But you could marry Tickling Feather.”

Chuck’s mouth gaped as he stared unbelieving at what his friend just said. Then he laughed. “You’re joking…Of course.”

But the old Indian couldn’t have looked more serious.

Chuck stopped laughing. “You mean you
are
serious?”

“She loves you. Has for many, many moons. She has supplied you with your needs during the full moon phases. Played messenger…comforter. And all because she has loved you since she was a small girl. She won’t even look at any of our eligible braves. Keeps hoping you will see her devotion to you. That you will see her as a woman capable of bearing you children and giving you a good life.”

Chuck leaned back against the counter. “I always knew she had a crush on me, Joe. But she’s so young!”

“She is old enough to marry. If you think about it, my friend…She’s only a little younger than Madison.”

“Yeah. I realized that the other day. The age thing, that is. That Madison’s not much older than she.”

“Will you please consider this for me, as your friend?”

With a slow nod, Chuck agreed. “Yes. It is something to think about. I am lonely. Won’t deny either that she is very pretty.”

Joe smiled proudly. “The prettiest young woman in our tribe, even if she is my granddaughter. Just wish her parents could have lived long enough to see her turn into the fine young woman that she is.”

“That’s right. They were killed about five years ago in a car wreck, weren’t they? I forget sometimes.”

“I realize it is not foremost on your mind. Still, it is something I never forget. Losing our only daughter, our only child, was not easy on me or Rose. Sometimes I think it is one of the things that killed Rose – grieving for Sunflower and Sunflower’s husband, Blue Moon, the way she did. I will always believe it caused her heart attack. At least, Ticking Feather was almost grown by then.”

“It is a good thing she has always been close to you. She has you.” Chuck stood straight then, suddenly feeling a little better. “Okay.” He gave Joe a light slap on the shoulder. “Maybe I won’t get so drunk after all.”

The old Indian was glad to hear that. “Thank you, my friend.”

“No. Thank you! Maybe I should marry Tickling Feather. I am sure I could grow to love her as a woman. I’m already very fond of her.” He headed for the beer cooler. “Just gonna grab a six pack. Maybe I’ll be back by closing.”

“That would be good.” Joe returned behind the counter. A slow smile came to his face. Maybe he had killed two birds with one stone. Chuck wouldn’t be lonely anymore, and to say that his granddaughter would be very happy would be an understatement.

Debra Jean had another letter from Madison’s mother, and instead of leaving it in the mailbox, she pulled into the drive, hoping to chat with her friend for a minute, before continuing on with her route. But Madison never came to the door. Yet, her car was in the drive. Deciding Madison had to be off with Devin Knight, and not about to knock on his door – that would be downright nosey – she just left the letter in the mailbox and pulled on away. Maybe Madison would be at the club tonight. She hoped so. She’d really become very fond of Madison, and she was great company for her when she was sitting in the club while Alex worked.

Chuck sat on the bank of a stream that ran behind not only his property but that of Madison’s and Devin’s, and by his side, was Shep. The dog seemed to enjoy these rare moments with Chuck, and Chuck certainly did. He realized that he hadn’t taken enough time off lately to do anything, unless it was the full moon, and then it was running as a wild animal through the local Indian reservation. He laid his arm around his dog and gave him a hug. Shep let out a little woof in appreciation.

“I know I haven’t taken time out lately to just try and enjoy life a little. I’m so sorry, buddy. I know you get lonely.”

Shep woofed again, as though he understood everything Chuck said.

Chuck sniggered fondly. “Maybe I should marry Tickling Feather. We could live on the reservation. I know she’d love that. I could either sell or rent out the cabin here. And now that Madison is living so close and has chosen a vampire for her boyfriend, I think that might be a very good idea.”

Shep made a slight nasal whine as though he fully understood all that Chuck said, and that he was sorry that Madison wasn’t with them.

“I know you like Madison, boy. But she’s going to be a vampire now.”

Shep looked at him and cocked his head, obviously trying to understand.

Chuck lovingly stroked the dog’s side and took back his arm. “Don’t worry about it, buddy. She’ll be okay, I guess. In fact, she’ll probably be around long after we’re gone.” His thoughts went to Gloria then. “Then there’s the pretty raven-haired Gloria. Her hair is as black as Tickling Feather’s. I like her. I do. She’d gladly marry me. I know she would, but she doesn’t know about werewolves and vampires. She’d have to be educated in all that.”

Shep woofed again as though he agreed.

“But Tickling Feather already knows the ropes. Indian’s don’t have to be told about supernatural things white folks don’t understand. And I do owe Indian Joe so much. Guess the least I could do is marry his granddaughter and make him happy. And, I sure hope, Tickling Feather too.”

Shep let out several excited woofs.

“So! Does that mean you approve?”

The dog stood on his hind legs then and woofed some more before dropping back down on all fours again.

“Okay…then. It’s settled.” Chuck ruffled the dog’s ears. “So glad we had this conversation, Shep. It took a load off my mind.” He lay back with his elbows on the grass. “Actually, I believe this is the most relief I’ve felt in years!”

Devin was the first one to awake, immediately noticing Madison’s pasty green color – something was wrong. “Madison, my sweet, wake up.” He shook her shoulder gently.

With a barely detectable moan, she responded.

“I need to talk with you, my love,” he said, examining her skin closely.

She let out another moan and rolled over and opened her eyes. “I feel weird. Not like before. Is there something wrong with me?”

While his stare was full of love, there was something else. “We have a problem.”

“What?” she asked, sitting up on her elbows. “Damn! I feel really nauseated. Hell of a lot more than before. Is that normal?” she pressed her hands to her tummy. “And my insides feel like they are on fire.” She frowned, noticing his face. “What’s the weird expression for?”

“There’s no easy way to tell you this, my sweet – but we cannot finish your transitioning this evening. At least, not until you’ve heard me out. There’s another decision you need to make.”

“What
other
decision, Devin? What are you talking about?”

He leaned in and kissed her sweetly and then pulled back. “I know you and Chuck were intimate.”

“Yes?” It was obvious in her expression that she wondered where he was going with this.

“It may have been only a time or two. But that is all it takes, my sweet – I realized from your color just now, I’ve seen it before – you’re pregnant!”

She bounded out of bed in spite of her weakness and faced him shocked.
“I’m…I’m pregnant!”

He stood up from bed and carefully placed his hands on her shoulders. “You’re not that far along. It is only by the grace of God that I saw the change in your color this evening. Otherwise, I would have turned you, and you would have really been sick after turning, for you would have had an unborn fetus, turned too! One that could never grow but would still remain inside you forever, unborn.”

Her jaw dropped as she stood there assimilating what he was telling her. “Oh my God!”

“And we do know the baby can’t be mine. Not possible. And it has been too long since you were with your former fiancé. Therefore, it has to be Chuck’s.”

She dropped heavily onto the bed. “This can’t be happening. I’m ready for you to turn me. It’s what I want. Now this! Damn! What do I do?” She stared up at him, pleading for an answer.

“You have to decide if you want to have the baby or not. And you have to decide if you want to be with me or Chuck. If you still want to be with me, I will gladly see you through your pregnancy and raise the child as my own.” He nodded. “That is, if that is what you want? Of course, Chuck would be the biological father, so he would definitely have rights to be with his child.”

“What about my turning? What about us being together forever?”

“We can still do that, Madison. Only, after the baby is born. We’ll just have to put off your transitioning until then. Once the baby is here, you may change your mind. You may want to be with Chuck.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you! Couldn’t! I love you far too much!”

“I believe that you are sincere in what you say. But you may easily change your mind once that baby arrives.” He sat down beside her and cradled her in his arms. “I am disappointed. I won’t lie. And I wish the baby were mine. But it’s not. I don’t hold that against you though. Question is – Do you want to keep the baby? In all honestly, I really don’t believe in abortion. But that is your choice. It is your body and your baby.”

“I would love to have a baby. Be a mother. All girls dream of becoming a mother someday.” She gazed into his gentle face. “But I love you so much it hurts. If you are willing to accept me with Chuck’s child, then that is what I want. I want to raise him or her with you.”

His eyes squint in a thoughtful smile. “Thank you, Madison. That was what I was praying you’d say.” He kissed her forehead and drew back. “But we have to tell Chuck.”

“Oh no…” she frowned at the thought.

“He has a right to know.”

“Dammit! You’re just too nice sometimes. You sure you’re a vampire?”

“Oh my sweet…” he gently closed his eyes and opened them. “Just been around a very long time. You’ve never seen the other side of me. And I would rather you never do. But, alas, I am sure you will sooner or later. I promise you, I can be the most ruthless individual you ever met when provoked.”

“Shit!”

“Tsk…Tsk…The profanities again.”

“I am not looking forward to telling Chuck.”

“If you’re keeping that baby – which I am taking it you wish to do – then you have to tell him, Madison.”

“All right. But could you go with me?”

His brow furrowed, uncertain. “I will do whatever you wish. Are you sure you want me right there with you when you tell him?”

“I’m afraid if I tell him alone…Gawd! Not sure how he’ll act. He may insist I be with him. I don’t want that. I want to be with you!”

He squeezed her lovingly. “If this is what you wish.”

“Yes! It is.”

His expression changed. Something else was on his mind.

“What, Devin?”

“We will have to hold back on the love-making.”

“You mean you’re not going to make love to me?”

“Shhh…Not to worry. Of course I will make love to you. I’ll just have to be much gentler. And I won’t drink nearly as much of your blood.”

“Will you still feed me yours?”

“A little perhaps. Though not a lot. I don’t want it to affect the fetus.”

She bobbed her head that she understood.

“Especially as the child matures. Towards the end of your term, I will have to refrain from feeding you mine…and from drinking from you. For that period of time, I will make an exception on the love-making. I will make love to you without our sharing blood for the baby’s sake.”

She put her arms around his neck. “No wonder Aunt Mattie loved you so much. You are the sweetest, most understanding, gentlest man I could possibly ever know!” She kissed him.

When she pulled back, he reminded her, “Just don’t forget I do have another side. Don’t ever forget it.”

“I won’t. But it is hard to think of you as being vicious.”

“I am, honey. I am very vicious!” He changed the subject. “So, when do we tell Chuck he’s going to be a daddy?”

“I guess the sooner the better.”

“Okay. But let’s get you to a doctor first. I’ll call in for an appointment for you with Mattie’s former doctor the first thing in the morning. And I’ll make it as late as possible. Hopefully, he’ll see us after hours.”

“Mattie’s old doctor? He’ll do that?”

“I believe so, my sweet. He knows about me. She was friends with him for a long time. He’s getting up in years. Fortunately for us, he’s still practicing. Even if he doesn’t take on pregnant women, surely he can recommend someone.”

“Okay. I’ll let you take care of it. As I don’t know any doctors around.”

He kissed her quickly then and said, “Now…we need to make sure you eat human food. How do a couple of T-bones, baked potatoes and fresh salad sound?”

“Sounds good. Only, I am feeling a bit nauseated.”

“Perhaps a Coke will help?”

“Yes. But I want to shower and change clothes first.”

“You got it, sweetheart.” He flashed off to get her Coke and she went to take her shower.

Chuck went on to work for the evening, letting a very pleased Indian Joe go on home, as his friend had filled in for him the entire day. Before Joe left, Chuck told him of his decision. That he was going to ask Tickling Feather for her hand in marriage. Joe let out a whoop and gave him a bear hug, so tight that Chuck had to remind him that he needed to breathe.

Joe happily told Chuck that he would not regret his decision, but he also promised not to say a word to Tickling Feather; wanted her to be totally surprised. The old Indian practically danced out the door. Chuck was happy that he was finally able to do something for his long and faithful friend.

The following evening Chuck was still in a jovial mood, not calling Indian Joe to come in, going around the store whistling and straightening shelves and was in the best mood he’d been in for a long time, but then the door opened and Madison walked in with Devin shadowing her.